Source: CITY OF LAS CRUCES submitted to NRP
CITY OF LAS CRUCES CURB YOUR WASTE - FOOD RECYCLING PROJECT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031894
Grant No.
2024-70510-41991
Cumulative Award Amt.
$400,000.00
Proposal No.
2023-12431
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2024
Project End Date
May 31, 2026
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[CFWR]- Compost and Food Waste Reduction
Recipient Organization
CITY OF LAS CRUCES
700 N MAIN ST
LAS CRUCES,NM 88001
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Curb Your Food Waste Project is a food waste prevention and recycling project that includes approximately 50,000 households and 8,000 commercial customers across the City of Las Cruces. If families, businesses and farms are educated in food waste reduction, more surplus food will be redirected to those in need. Keeping food out of landfill is also a critical way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - if each household in this project recycles their food scraps for two years, the reduction in GHG emissions would be the same as taking over 10,000 cars off the road. Furthermore, food scraps collected from Las Cruces residents and commercial customer's Green Bins will greatly enhance the existing green yard waste compost, creating a more effective and beneficial fertilizer to enrich the soil of local farms, public parks, and gardens and reduce the use of manufactured concentrated fertilizer products.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7035010302050%
7045010303050%
Goals / Objectives
Food Waste Reduction - Too much food is simply discarded, where it ends up in the landfill. The program will also have an educational component, teaching people about the importance of reducing food waste, composting, and sustainable living. This education will empower residents, particularly our disadvantaged populations, giving them the tools and knowledge to make more sustainable decisions, and improving their quality of life. In addition, reduced food waste can also potentially lower overall food prices, which will indirectly contribute to food affordability for low-income individuals and families.Diversion of Surplus Food to Beneficial Use - One of the critical goals of food waste reduction is to redirect surplus food, that would otherwise be wasted, to those who are in need. By educating families, businesses and farms on how to recover and where to distribute surplus food, this program will directly improve food security among disadvantaged populations.Diversion of Food Waste from the Landfill - Diverting food waste from landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as food waste in landfills generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas.Create Jobs - This program will encourage the creation of jobs in various sectors, such as food recovery, composting facilities, transportation, and waste management as the programs mature and expand.ObjectivesFood Waste ReductionEducate people about the importance of reducing food waste, composting, and sustainable living.Improve food security among disadvantaged populations.Food Waste CollectionTest approaches to collection of food waste, both weekly or biweekly. It will also determine whether trucks need to be reconfigured to handle food waste or if an addition of a separate fleet dedicated to food waste collection.Identify potential operational issues for the Clean Landfill regarding the proper handling of these organic materials.Diversion of Surplus Food to Beneficial UseEducate people on how to save and recover unused food.Increase food supply to organizations that re-distribute food to families in need.Diversion of Food Waste from the LandfillReduce Greenhouse Gas emissions.Use food waste to create an enhanced compost fertilizer.Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.Create JobsEncourage the creation of jobs in various sectors, such as food recovery, composting facilities, transportation, and waste management.
Project Methods
Good communication is critical to ensure the efficient and timely implementation of the project. The City will foster open and transparent communication channels among all partnering entities by encouraging regular communication to share updates, address concerns, and coordinate efforts effectively. City staff will set up a centralized communication platform or project management tool to streamline communication and document sharing.The initial kick-off meeting and follow-up meetings will be focused on ensuring that each partnering entity understands its specific roles, responsibilities, and deliverables for the project and that the scope of work, expectations, and desired outcomes for each entity involved are clearly defined. City staff will encourage collaborators to provide input and suggest ways to improve each task based on their specific areas of expertise. Regular meetings, either in-person or virtual, will be scheduled through project implementation review project progress, discuss challenges, and align on next steps.As a preparatory phase, the outreach will begin with a series of billboards and meetings to discuss the Curb Your Food Waste Program. Meetings will be provided for elected officials, local news media, and residents to prepare for the full outreach program.The goals of the outreach program will be three-fold.To provide information on the impacts of food waste on climate change and information on the proposed program to begin recycling food waste as an individual stream and the production of a higher quality compost for use within the community.Clarify the Return on Investment (ROI) to the resident for participation, e.g., provide clarification of how the broader benefits impact the resident on a practical daily basis.To survey residents on what types of recycling activities with regards to food waste that they are most like to engage in to maximize the number of 'set-outs.' For example, would residents prefer larger rolling bins or smaller household bins with strategically located drop-off locations? Would compostable bags be preferred? What options would be best to reduce the 'odor' and 'ick' factors?To develop an education program that will take a longer-term approach to educate residents both on food waste recycling and reducing waste altogether. Households in disadvantaged census tracts will be canvassed to participate in the project by receiving a mailing and an in-person visit from the City of Las Cruces' representatives. During this program, those who volunteer to participate will learn to:Shop smart to prevent food from being wasted and create less waste.Learn how to home compost more effectively.Make the most of your food, and compost or recycle the rest using the Green Bin to recycle food scraps.In addition to written and hard-copy materials as mentioned above, the City recognizes that there are several multimedia tools that can be used for education and outreach that can help engage community members, disseminate information effectively, and create an interactive learning experience.Social Media Platforms: The City currently maintains active accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. These platforms will be used to share updates, events, and resources with the community.Websites: The City currently maintains websites for each Department and the green yard waste recycling program. These sites will be updated with information regarding the Curb Your Food Waste program. Interactive features such as forms, surveys, and comment sections will be considered to facilitate community engagement and feedback.Videos and Webinars: Producing videos and webinars can be powerful educational tools. Webinars enable live or recorded interactive sessions where community members can ask questions and participate in discussions and be retained for later viewing. Videos on the Curb Your Food Waste program will be shared on YouTube or embedded on websites for wider reach.Online Surveys and Feedback Tools: Utilizing online survey tools like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey can help gather feedback, opinions, and suggestions from the community. Surveys enable data collection, analysis, and understanding community perspectives on specific elements of the program, as noted above.Following completion of the initial outreach and survey portion of the project, the City Solid Waste Department will initiate the purchase of the appropriate collection bins and supporting materials based on the results of the survey and the feasibility of integration with existing waste collection activities.In the initial phases of food waste recycling, it is likely that there will be confusion in the use of the food waste bins, with unacceptable materials contaminating the food waste. City staff will prioritize monitoring the food waste stream during the first year for the presence of unacceptable materials so those portions of the food waste stream can be diverted from the compost processing.

Progress 06/01/24 to 05/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, we have not targeted a specific audienceas we are in the process of establishing our composting infrastructure. We plan to engage with households, businesses, and schools to educate them about the composting process and its benefits. We will also facilitate the collection of organic waste to support our composting efforts. Changes/Problems:Major changes in approach have occurred within the Curb Your Food Waste Project as the Las Cruces Utilities Solid Waste Department has progressed through various stages of implementation. Initially, the focus was on securing the $400,000 Cooperative Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, which was intended to kick-start a comprehensive initiative for food waste prevention and recycling at various community levels. As the project evolved, a significant shift occurred towards the development of the infrastructure necessary for composting. This included finalizing plans for an aeration composting system and preparing a concrete slab that requires approval from the Las Cruces Utility Board. The establishment of this infrastructure is crucial as it sets the foundation for the next step in the compost collection process. By establishing this infrastructure, the Las Cruces Utility Solid Waste program aims to efficiently collect and process food waste, thereby ensuring that the project's primary objective of diverting waste from landfills is achieved. Additionally, a strategic decision has been made to partner with local educational institutions, particularly through the Growing Green grant from New Mexico State. This collaboration, which involves drafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Las Cruces Public Community Schools, reflects an expanded approach to sustainability, emphasizing community involvement and resource sharing to enhance educational initiatives related to environmental responsibility. These changes are driven by the overarching goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil health through enhanced compost quality, and fostering a collaborative network that benefits the entire community. By advancing the infrastructure and expanding partnerships, the Las Cruces Utility Solid Waste Department is well-positioned to achieve its objectives and create a more sustainable future. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Solid Waste Manager plays a crucial role in Solid Waste initiatives, particularly with the Curb Your Food Waste Project. As a team member, the manager is actively involved in overseeing the project's infrastructure and ensuring its success. Furthermore, the manager is engaged in ongoing training and professional development opportunities through the United States Compost Council. These opportunities include a variety of training programs, certifications, and industry conferences designed to enhance knowledge and skills in composting practices. This involvement supports the objectives of Las Cruces Utilities and Solid Waste to enhance food waste prevention, recycling efforts, and sustainability initiatives within the community. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results were shared with interested communities during the Las Cruces City Council meeting, where approval of the grant and the City of Las Cruces newspaper announcement were requested. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the target audiences reached by the efforts of the Las Cruces Utilities Solid Waste Department primarily include: 1. Households: The Curb Your Food Waste Project is designed to engage residents in food waste prevention and recycling efforts, thereby encouraging sustainable practices at the household level. 2. Commercial Establishments: Businesses participate in the project to promote food waste reduction and encourage recycling, to minimize their environmental impact. 3. Schools: The initiative collaborates with schools, particularly through the Growing Green grant from New Mexico State, to enhance educational and sustainability efforts. This collaboration aims to provide valuable resources and practices that can be integrated into school programs. 4. Local Farms and Public Parks: The enriched compost produced by the project is intended to nourish the soil in local farms and public parks, ultimately benefiting farmers, park authorities, and community members through improved soil health and sustainability. 5. Community as a Whole: Overall, the project objectives are to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices throughout the broader community, contributing to a collective effort to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions. In the following year, we will implement a comprehensive education program to inform the community about composting practices. Additionally, we will initiate regular compost collection services to ensure participation and assist easy access for residents. This two-pronged approach will help us effectively achieve our composting goals for the grant. These diverse audiences reflect the project's comprehensive approach to mitigating food waste and enhancing sustainability within the local area.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The City of Las Cruces and Las Cruces Utilities Solid Waste Department are currently finalizing the infrastructure necessary for the composting process as part of the Curb Your Food Waste Project, a pilot initiative. This includes the setup of the aeration composting system, for which a design is being finalized, and installation is planned to follow. Additionally, they are working on the concrete slab, which requires approval from the Las Cruces Utilities Board in June, as part of the overall infrastructure development. An invitation to bid for the composting system has also been issued, and the bid process has been completed and approved by the Las Cruces Utility Board.

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